Letter: Private sector should cover nation's uninsured

Donald F. Foy

Published Saturday, March 01, 2008

Editor: It would be impossible today to watch TV news or read the newspapers and not hear mention of the 47 million Americans who are without health insurance. Both Democratic candidates for president have said universal health care insurance would cover everyone including the uninsured.

But, who are these so-called uninsured? The percentage of the uninsured population in this country has remained steady since 1987 at about 16 percent. A estimated 26 percent of today's uninsured are thought to be illegal aliens. Some 40 percent of the uninsured are young (under 34 years of age) and many earn between $50,000-$75,000 per year.

Because many of them are relatively healthy, they do not feel the need to buy health insurance. About 14 million of the uninsured are eligible for existing government programs but choose not to participate. Further, it is a fact that legally no one in this country goes without health care for emergencies or by just showing up in an emergency room, regardless of ability to pay.

So now that we have identified the composition of this uninsured population, why the need to develop a universal health care plan when many of the uninsured are either eligible for current government programs or choose not to purchase coverage because of other priorities?

Before expanding government involvement why not have government provide incentives for the private insurance sector to target certain uninsured groups with innovative attractive plans.